July 31, 2017:

 

            We got up and got dressed. We went to the lobby for breakfast. After breakfast we finished packing and then checked out of the hotel. We then hit the highway for the drive back to Washington. We ended up hitting traffic in Manassas but soon we were clear of it.

 

            As we got closer to Washington, we passed over the 14^th Street Bridge that on January 13^th, 1982, was struck by Air Florida flight 90 as it fell from the sky due to snow and ice on its wings and in the engines. A few minutes later, we drove past the Pentagon which was also hit by a commercial airliner. We then stopped at a gas station a few miles from the airport and filled up.

 

            After, we returned the rental car and headed to Metro. We had plenty of time before our train left.

 

            A Yellow train came first. While both lines would connect to the Red line, the Yellow connected closer to Union Station. I photographed the train when it pulled in.

 

 

            We then rode to Gallery Place where we got off. I filmed the train pulling out.

 

            We then went transferred to the red line where I photographed a train of 7000 series cars going the opposite way before I photographed our subway train which was another train of 7000 cars.

 

 

 

 

            We rode to Union Station where we got off. I then filmed the train leaving. We then left Metro and went to the train station. We had over an hour before our train was scheduled to leave. We stopped at the McDonald’s in the station where Mark got something to eat. I bought a Coke there.

 

            I saw a bird in the McDonald’s as Mark phoned his dad to let him know we were in Washington.

 

            After awhile, it was time to board the train. I photographed the train as well as other equipment on the platform including ASC-64 #642 which is another Veterans unit.

 

 

 

 

            Mark and I were seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82616. From the train, I could see Amtrak train #20; the New York bound Crescent which is clearly 90+ minutes late as it was supposed to have left before train #84 which we were on. I photographed train #20.

 

 

 

            The train departed on time. After we left, I photographed another train of 7000 series Metro subway cars.

 

 

 

            I filmed the equipment in the Amtrak yard. I could see the Superliners that would become today’s Capitol Limited to Chicago.

 

            The train stopped in New Carrolton. Out of New Carrolton, our tickets were taken. I logged into Amtrak’s Wi-Fi network. We stopped at BWI Airport a little while later.

 

            I went to the café car for lunch. While I was in line, we stopped at Baltimore. I got my food and returned to my seat.

 

            After leaving Baltimore, I phoned my friend Dan to see if we could meet. He said it didn’t look like it, but to call him again when we got to New York.

 

            We stopped in Wilmington. After we left Wilmington, I filmed an Acela Express train and photographed what looked like some coaches undergoing rebuild.

 

 

 

            I filmed Amtrak’s Bear shops as we raced past. I saw some retired electric locomotives in storage.

 

            A little while later, we stopped in Philadelphia. After leaving, I filmed a few more trains and the PCCs stored near the line.

 

            The train stopped in Trenton. After leaving Trenton, we passed a New Jersey Transit commuter train led by a SEPTA cab car. We stopped in Metropark a little while later.

 

            As we approached Newark, I photographed some PATH trains and ACS-64 #602 which was by itself.

 

 

 

            We stopped at Newark. We soon departed. The train entered the tunnel under the Hudson River before we arrived at Penn Station on time. We got off and I photographed the train.

 

 

 

            Mark and I then went upstairs. We went outside where I phoned Dan again. He said we couldn’t meet up, but told me he was in Arlington the past weekend for the Boy Scout Jamboree. I asked him if he was at the Air and Space Museum on Friday. He said he was but he and his troop were there after 3:00 pm so it turns out that Mark and I just missed him!

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            After the call, Mark remarked that he hadn’t met any of my friends in the U.S. I did remind him that it wasn’t true. He had my friend Karl back in 2001 at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum.

 

            In previous trips when I’ve changed trains in New York, I had gone for a short ride on the New York subway system. However, this time, we didn’t bother though I would have liked to ride some R32s one more time.

 

            We stayed around Penn Station. I got a donut from Krispy Kreme in the station.

 

            After awhile, it was time to board Train #49, the westbound Lakeshore Limited. When we went down to the platform, I saw the dining car was an Amfleet 2 Diner-Lounge just like the Lakeshore used between 2007 and 2010. Amtrak’s new Viewliner 2 dining cars are slowly coming on line so maybe once there’s enough diners, the Lakeshore Limited will be so equipped.

 

            We were seated in Amfleet 2 coach #25051 which was right behind the locomotive. The train departed one minute late.

 

            I logged into the Wi-Fi as the Lakeshore Limited now has Wi-Fi. My ticket was taken.

 

            The train stopped at Croton-Harmon.

 

            An Amtrak employee came by asking for dinner reservations. Mark and I chose to have dinner at 5:30.  Prior to dinner, Mark got something from the dining car as it was the only food service car on the train south of Albany.

 

            When 5:30 pm came, Mark and I went to the dining car for dinner. Mark said that this was the first time since our Western Canada trip that he had been in a train with a dining car!

 

            The train stopped at Poughkeepsie. Amtrak train #48 passed, but I was unable to film it. After Mark and I paid for dinner, we returned to our coach.

 

            A little while later, we stopped in Albany. As we came in, I saw the consist of what would have been train #448 to Boston on the track that the train takes to leave towards Boston.

 

            The P32AC-DM that hauled the train from New York was uncoupled.

 

            Mark and I went onto the platform since this was a smoke stop. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

 

            The train had actually pulled in on the newest track in the station. In order for the track to be built, the former Albany station was demolished. This new platform track was built to make it easier for the Lakeshore Limited when it splits or combines in Albany.

 

            I saw a work train led by GP38H-3 #520. #520 was originally built for GO Transit when they first started up and sold to Amtrak in the late 80s-early 90s.

 

 

            Once again, the Lakeshore was splitting at Albany (or in this case combining). I photographed the Boston section out by the shops.

 

 

            The Boston section of the Lakeshore Limited offers Business Class in addition to the sleeping car. The Business Class car is an Amfleet 1 food service car like what’s found on Empire Service trains and the Downeaster with Business Class seats at one end. The café car is now next to the sleeper.

 

            I then took some more photos.

 

 

 

 

            Meanwhile, the Boston Section was backed into the station. However, it backed onto the track next to the New York section. I photographed it.

 

 

            Mark and I went up to the end of the platform. I noticed that the Viewliner 1 sleeping car had been repainted into the Phase 3 livery to match the new Viewliner 2 cars. I took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            The Boston section then pulled ahead and switched tracks. It then reversed up to the New York section. I photographed the train, and then Mark and I filmed the coupling move along with several others.

 

 

            I then walked to the rear of the train and took some photos. I photographed one of the Amfleet 2 coaches whose decals were peeling.

 

 

Amtrak needs to touch this car’s stripes up.

 

 

 

 

 

You can see the consist for train #448. Maybe the Boston Section wasn’t running that day.

 

 

            Mark and I then got back on the train. HEP was restored. I filmed trains #68 and #64 pulling in. The Lakeshore departed close to on time. I filmed the maintenance shop and took some photos.

 

 

 

 

            I worked on this trip report some more. A little while later, we stopped in Schenectady.

 

            Amtrak is building a new station in Schenectady and have closed the old station. They have a temporary station which has a small platform requiring the train to make several stops. I photographed the temporary station.

 

 

 

            I can only hope when the new station is built, it can have a decent elevator unlike the slow one at the old station. I pointed out to Mark the general area where the ex Great Northern Alco switcher was which I had photographed on previous trips.

 

            After leaving Schenectady, we passed through Amsterdam non stop. The sun went down.

 

            About an hour later, we were approaching Utica. Mark and I readied our stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            Train #49 arrived into Utica 14 minutes late. Mark and I got off and I photographed the train.

 

 

 

 

 

            I then filmed the train pulling out of Utica before Mark and I walked over to our hotel which was the Days Inn I had stayed at during both my Six Flags Make up Trip and my Alabama trip. On the way, I asked Mark what he thought of Amtrak. He said it was cool.

 

            Mark and I checked in and went to our room. While all our hotels were by Days Inn, this hotel was the only one with interior corridors. I phoned home and let my parents know we were in Utica.

 

            I went to a convenience store before I went back to the room. We watched some TV before I asked for a wake up call at 8:30 and called it a night.

 

August 1, 2017:

 

            Mark and I got up and got dressed. We went to the lobby for breakfast. After breakfast we finished packing and checked out. We then walked to the train station.

 

            As we crossed above the line, I photographed equipment from the Adirondack Scenic Valley tourist line.

 

 

 

            I then photographed steam locomotive #6721 which still shows scars from being hit by a runaway freight car. I have learned that had the steam engine not been there, the runaway freight car would have smashed through the station which could have killed some people waiting for their Amtrak train.

 

 

            As we came by the Children’s museum, I photographed the Alco and the dining car they have on display.

 

 

 

            We then got to the station. We had plenty of time before train #63 was scheduled to leave. I saw an F unit from the Adirondack Scenic Valley switching some cars. I photographed it and filmed it.

 

 

 

 

            An eastbound CSX freight train passed. I photographed it.

 

 

 

            I then photographed the F unit switching the cars as well as steam locomotive #6721.

 

 

 

 

            I then walked to the other end of the platform. I photographed more equipment from the Adirondack Scenic.

 

 

 

 

 

            Amtrak train #284 then arrived. I filmed the train pulling in and photographed it.

 

 

            I then filmed #284 departing and took one more photo of it.

 

 

            I then photographed the Adirondack Scenic tourist locomotives as they finished with the switching.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            I then went back inside the station to find out what track train #63 would be on. I was told it would be the closest platform to the station.

 

            Trains #63 arrived 40 minutes late. When it arrived, I filmed the train pulling in.

 

 

            Mark and I were seated in Amfleet 1 coach #82813. We soon departed. I took two more photographs of the F unit that was switching as well as steam locomotive #6721.

 

 

 

            I logged into the Wi-Fi on the train. Our tickets were taken. We stopped at Rome. Mark and I then went to the café car for lunch. I also worked on this report some more.

 

            A little while later, we stopped in Syracuse. I notices signs for Interstate 81; which our hotel in Luray was near. After leaving Syracuse, I attempted to film Amtrak train #48 as well as the equipment on display at the Syracuse fair grounds.

 

            We stopped in Rochester which was still using the temporary station though construction on the new station was progressing well. West of Rochester, we passed Amtrak train #64 which I attempted to film.

 

            An announcement was made that the café car would soon close. I went to the café car for some snacks which I took back to my seat.

 

            The train stopped at Buffalo Depew and Buffalo Exchange Street. Once we left Exchange Street, we were given forms to fill out for Canadian Customs.

 

            From the train I could make out Niagara Falls Ontario in the distance. We passed by the site of the old Niagara Falls New York station and stopped at the new station which is just across the river from Niagara Falls, Ontario. However, we weren’t able to step off in Niagara Falls New York as I had been on previous trips.

 

            The train departed and crossed into Canada.  We stopped at Niagara Falls, Ontario where once again everyone was made to get off the train and take our luggage with us.

 

            We went inside to be processed for Canadian customs. When it was Mark and my turn, agents asked us to leave our suitcases by the wall to a dog could sniff them.

 

            Our inspections were quick, but when we went to get our suitcases, we had to wait until they were finished with the dog and the agents didn’t understand at first, but soon realized what was going on.

 

            Mark and I were soon able to get our suitcases and we left the customs area. I walked to the front of the train and photographed it.

 

 

            I then went inside the station and rejoined Mark to wait for reboarding of the train. While we were waiting, I photographed Nova LFX articulated #5204 which had been repainted from the WEGO livery to the standard Niagara Falls Transit livery.

 

 

            After awhile, the customs inspection was done and we were allowed to get back on the train. Mark and I were now seated in Amfleet 2 coach #25105. The train departed 32 minutes late.

 

            We travelled slowly at first but soon picked up speed. I worked on this report some more. The bridge over the Welland Canal was down. We stopped in St. Catherines.

 

            Mark and I went to the café car for dinner. We took our dinner back to our seat. The train stopped at Grimsby.

 

            A little while later, we passed through Hamilton. I photographed some locomotives in the CN/Southern Ontario Railway yard.

 

 

 

            The train stopped at Aldershot a few minutes later. We soon departed. The train did not stop at Oakville. VIA train #79 passed.

 

            As we passed VIA’s Toronto Maintenance Center, I filmed the equipment in the yard. We were soon nearing Union Station. I readied my stuff in preparation to get off.

 

            VIA train #98 arrived 23 minutes late. Mark and I got off and I photographed the train.

 

 

 

            I went downstairs and saw on the VIA departures board that the Westbound Canadian which was supposed to leave at 10:00 pm was now leaving 11 ½ hours late. It reminded me of the Sunset Limited on my Arizona trip 11 years ago. I photographed the board.

 

 

The Canadian is almost 12 hours late leaving!

 

 

            Mark told me that he thought Amtrak was cool but didn’t know if he could handle a longer trip.

 

            We then went to the subway and rode to Finch. Mark’s mom met us and gave me a ride home.

 

Conclusions:

 

            This was the first time Mark and I had been on a trip to the United States and it was excellent. It was nice to visit the National Capital Trolley Museum in Washington again and some point in the future, Mark and I may go to Seashore.

 

            Cooter’s Last Stand was a good event. I would have liked have gotten Don Pedro Colley’s autograph. As it turns out the October after the trip, Don Pedro Colley passed away so now I’ll never be able to get his autograph!

 

            My next trip won’t be until November when I go to Windsor for a TTS charter which will also go into Detroit. Until next time…

 

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